New grad nurses in the ED

[ceea44]

I'm a new graduate with an interest in working in the ED. I have an upcoming interview for an ED nurse residency position and I'm open to suggestions for important questions to ask during the interview.

Also, while I continue to apply for jobs, are there ways to better prepare/equip myself for a career in the ED in addition to certifications such as ACLS and PALS?

Any input would be much appreciated! Thank you!

[criticalRN10]

There are a lot of threads on this topics if you go search you'll find some great information

[GM2RN]

I have mixed feelings about new grads starting in the ED. While it can be done successfully, it isn't for everyone and it's difficult.

Forget about ACLS and PALS for now. Your employer will get you trained for for those and anything else that they require on their dime, and pay you an hourly wage to take the classes.

The best thing you can do to prepare yourself is for a career in the ED is to have the right attitude. Be teachable. And develop a thick skin. Nurses in the ED tend to be type A personalities, so you need to be able to let things roll off your back and absorb any criticism as constructive, learning everything you can from every situation.

You should also be proactive and study at home. Don't expect to that your preceptor will be able to teach you everything you need to know; there is just to much information for him/her to do that. Study disease processes, medications, and procedures that will be used in the ED.

Learning to anticipate what your patients will need and getting those things started will help you with orginization. For instance, you get a new patient complaining of abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting. Before the patient sees the doc, you should be getting a UA, starting an IV, getting blood, and giving fluids, as long as fluids are not contraindicated. If the pt is a female of child bearing years and has not had a hysterectomy, you should anticipate a urine pregnancy test before any xrays or CT will be done. If the patient is actively vomiting, you could also ask a doc to give them something for nausea while they are waiting to see the doc. This is only one example of many that you will learn to anticipate in order to organize your work and keep things flowing in the ED.

Expect that it will take at least a year or two for you to really feel comfortable in your role in the ED. If you can do these things, you will be fine.

As for interview questions, I agree with the post above. There are plenty of other threads that are fairly recent and relevant that will provide you with everything you need to know.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

Forget about ACLS and PALS for now. Your employer will get you trained for for those and anything else that they require on their dime, and pay you an hourly wage to take the classes.

I know a regional medical center that hires new grads in to their ED as part of the residency program ONLY invited new grads who already had ACLS to interview, so in a competitive field within a competitive market for a new grad, if you can afford it, I would at least get ACLS. Having ACLS definitely seemed beneficial to my classmates in their job hunt as well.

[GM2RN]

I know a regional medical center that hires new grads in to their ED as part of the residency program ONLY invited new grads who already had ACLS to interview, so in a competitive field within a competitive market for a new grad, if you can afford it, I would at least get ACLS. Having ACLS definitely seemed beneficial to my classmates in their job hunt as well.

Interesting, I've not heard of this. I'd have to say this is probably not the norm, or perhaps it is regional. It wouldn't hurt the OP to check the hospitals in his/her area to see if this would apply. If not, then it isn't worth spending the money out of pocket.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

Maybe its regional, maybe it's the current new grad market in a lot of areas. I can only speak to my experience and the experience of my classmates who got jobs in specialty areas. I saw it help in general and in the case of one employer with a competitive, sought after new grad program, it made a difference in whether you were considered to interview or not for the ED.

[SMARN]

Interesting, I've not heard of this. I'd have to say this is probably not the norm, or perhaps it is regional. It wouldn't hurt the OP to check the hospitals in his/her area to see if this would apply. If not, then it isn't worth spending the money out of pocket.

I agree.

My hospital did not require ACLS or PALS previous to hiring; I was hired in ED as a new grad. I got ACLS, PALS, and TNCC certified during my precepting at the hospital's cost, and was paid my hourly wage on top of that.